Tyler Perry Directing And Starring In Rom-Com Good Deeds Before I, Alex Cross

Though Tyler Perry has yet another one of his Madea movies hitting theaters on April 22, the multi-hyphenate and genuine cultural phenomenon has also been inching a little closer to the mainstream over the last few years. There was his quick appearance in Star Trek, his backing of Oscar nominee Precious, and last fall's For Colored Girls, which wasn't exactly a hit but was presented with distinctly different marketing than his usual comedic fare. Now he's set to play the lead role in the detective film I, Alex Cross, but in the meantime he's also prepping his next film, which looks like it will fall somewhere between Madea's Big Happy Family and Star Trek on the mainstream success scale.

Talking to Black Film at Cinema Con last week, Perry said his next film will be Good Deeds, a romantic comedy that he will direct, produce and star in, though not as his iconic Madea character. Here's what he had to say about the plot:

"Itís a romantic comedy that I play the lead role in. Itís about a guy thatís torn between the girl heís going to get married and a new girl that he just meets and he falls in love with. So thatís a little different for me.Ē

Variety followed up the report with more detailed information about the plot, which finds Perry as as successful entrepreneur who falls for a poorer woman just before he's about to get married. Perry hasn't put together his cast yet but he plans to start shooting on April 25, and suggested the release could come "maybe in the fall." Production on I, Alex Cross, which Rob Cohen will direct, starts in June, so Perry's definitely not working in any time off.